1. 4-H Ghana Overview

2. The 4 H’s symbolize: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health
WHAT is 4-H?
4-H Ghana is a member of the Global 4-H Network
Global 4-H Network
4-H Ghana
Mission: empower youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults
Reach: 7 million youth in more than 70+ countries, including million girls
Founded: 1902 in the U.S.
Founded: 2000 in Ghana
Mission: promote youth empowerment through active engagement of the young people on topical issues that affect their development
Reach: over 30,000 youth in the Eastern, Volta, Ashanti, Northern, Greater Accra, Central, and Brong Ahafo Regions
The 4 H’s symbolize: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health
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3. WHAT ARE 4-H CLUBS? These are: Groups of young people
Who are guided by an Adult Leader or Volunteer
Who develop individual project activities
Who apply principles through learning by doing agricultural practices and other life skills in schools and communities

4. 4-H CLUB GOALS To teach the youth to appreciate agriculture.
To develop leadership and good citizenship skills.
To reduce poverty through entrepreneurial skills.
To promote health education (eg.Drugs Abuse).
To propagate good environmental protection practices.
To encourage volunteerism.

5. WHO CAN JOIN? Any girl or boy between the ages of 10 -20.
Members pay just a small fee to register in order to obtain a 4-H club membership card.
No dues are paid to National 4-H
However, members may decide to pay dues at the club level to be used to enhance their own club activities.

6. 4-H Alumni Volunteer Network
Anyone who wants to support 4-H and advisers
Community members that care about 4-H
4-H members who have completed school can be 4-H Alumni.
Alumni play important roles in 4-H activities by:
Supporting new 4-H clubs members
Providing directions to 4-H clubs members
Encouraging member’s entrepreneurial projects

7. WHERE DO 4-H CLUBS MEET? 4-H Club may meet in any suitable place.
For example :
Under the shade of a tree
On a school farm
In a classroom
Public building such as a church.
Members’ house

8. WHAT DO 4-H MEMBERS DO AT MEETINGS?
Meetings are held weekly.
4-H club leaders are elected by the members.
Club members learn new skills through:
Guidance of Club Advisor.
Invited resource persons
Group discussions
Project area demonstrations
Brainstorming
On various topics such as health, nutrition, drugs abuse, etc.

9. THE 4-H CLUB MEETING There are three components to a good 4-H meeting:
Business – Where the official work of the club is discussed and voted on.
Programme – The educational part of the meeting.
Recreation – Have fun and socialize

10. Business Procedure: (about 20 Minutes) Call to order by the president.
Recitation of the 4-H pledge
Roll call by the secretary.
Minutes of previous meeting by secretary
Reports of committees
Unfinished or old business.
New Business.

11. Programme The educational part of the meeting.
Members gain knowledge about:
Agriculture, Health, Environment and micro Enterprises etc. through:
Educational Talks
Community Member Demonstrations
Tours
Member Presentation

12. Recreation Recreation – includes educational games.
Dance
Songs
Sports
Drama
Poetry
All recreation should include both boys and girls.

13. HOW DO 4-H MEMBERS HAVE FUN?
Clubs may have fun through :
Drama, Pick and act, Tag of peace,
Musical chairs
Excursions
Camps
Club Exhibition
Field trips to farms or agricultural stations
Open day

14. IMPORTACE OF GAMES FOR 4-H MEMBERS
Each meeting’s agenda should include about 20 minutes for recreation as planed by the recreation officer to:
Break down barriers
Help break shyness
Help in the realization of potential(s)
Encourage cooperation through team work
Inspires problem solving skills

15. Helpful Hints for 4-H Club Meeting
Executive officers should meet a day or more before the meeting.
At your business meeting, president and secretary be seated in front.
Club programmes should be properly reviewed before meetings.
Start your 4-H club meeting on time and adjourn on time.
All committees should have a fair representation of both sexes and age.
Do not let the business part of the meeting take more than 20 minutes.
About one hour total for a meeting is the maximum.
This should include about 1/3 meeting, 1/3 programme, and 1/3 recreation.

16. Possible Club Officers in 4-H
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Additional officers may include:
Recreation Officer
Organizer
Female Leader
Committee Chairs

17. Duties of 4-H club officials:
PRESIDENT should:
Preside over meetings
Prepare the agenda for meeting
Have the place of meeting in order
Encourage active participation by all members
Be well acquainted with the rules, traditions, and policies
Keep order in the meeting
Act as advisor to other officials
Act as official representative of the club
Guide club in appointing committees
Appreciate all persons & organizations that have supported the club, on behalf of the members or get some one to do it
Introduce speakers or special guests
Vote in the case of a tie
Regulate the time taken for each activity
Work in collaboration with local leaders

18. Duties of 4-H club officials:
VICE PRESIDENT should:
Conduct meetings in the absence of the president.
Serve as general chairperson of the programmes committee.
Check ahead of the meeting to see that the persons to appear on the programme are well prepared.
Work in cordiality with president and other leaders

19. Duties of 4-H club officials:
SECRETARY should:
Call roll
Keep an accurate record of attendance
Keep accurate minutes of all meetings
Notify members of meeting dates and time
Keep a record of all members
Write thank you notes and letters of appreciation

20. Duties of 4-H club officials:
SAMPLE MINUTES TEMPLATE
The meeting of the ….4-H Club was called to order by…the President. The meeting was held at…on…at…o’clock, year 20…The minutes were read and approved. Number of members present… There were __ boys and __girls. Leaders present were…Others attending enrolled were…New members enrolled were…Total attendance (members, leader, and others)was…Business (committee reports old and new business plans made…. Programme: (talks, demonstrations, etc. given and by whom……The next meeting of the club will be held at……on ………at …. o’clock.
Club Secretary.
(Refer to page 16 of leadership manual )

21. Duties of 4-H club officials:
TREASURER should:
Keep financial transaction records such as:
Cash from sale of produce
Special contributions from members
Donations to the club
Expenditures 
Monitor the bank account of the club
Each club is encouraged to open a bank account for safe keeping of club monies

22. CHECK LIST TO EVALUATE A SUCCESSFUL 4-H CLUB (For local leaders)
Does each member have a project?
Does each member have a record book of their project?
Has each member filled out his/her record book properly and kept it current?
Are club meetings held regularly? 
Is there always a programme at the 4-H meeting?
Do members know how to conduct a business meeting? 
Does each club have a Secretary’s Book?

23. CHECK LIST TO EVALUATE A SUCCESSFUL 4-H CLUB (For local leaders)
Does the club have recreation at the end of the meeting?
Do the officials of the club know their responsibilities?
Do you have the support of the parents of the members? 
Does each member, local leader, and advisory committee member know the goals of the 4-H club? 

24. CHECK LIST TO EVALUATE A SUCCESSFUL 4-H CLUB (For local leaders)
Does each member know the meaning of the 4-H’s?
Does each member know the motto and the pledge?
Does each member have a membership card? 
Has the club taken a tour or field day to some other farm or agricultural center?

25. Impact of Programs
Equipping teachers with hands-on and engaging classroom activities to develop life skills and leadership in students
Transferring new agricultural technologies through 4-H clubs and youth members to parents and communities
Reduce food insecurity Ex.- By boosting maize production from between 4-6 bags of 50kg to bags of 50kg
Engaging young people in agriculture and entrepreneurship to reduce rural-urban migration and youth unemployment
Promoting healthy lifestyle habits among youth and communities to proactively combat detrimental health issues
4-H Ghana’s clubs have received 22 District Ag Awards from and a Regional Ag Award in 2013
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26. Contact Us
Address: P.O. Box 2561, Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana
Phone: 233 (0) or 233 (0)
Participate with Us: Facebook (4H Ghana) and Twitter
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